What did Jesus mean by calling the Father “my God and your God” (John 20:17)?

In John 20:17, Jesus says to Mary Magdalene, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” It seems strange to read of Jesus’ referring to the Father as “my God and your God,” since He shares the nature of God Himself.

Jesus instructs Mary to go to His “brothers” (i.e., the disciples) and deliver the news of His resurrection. This act is pregnant with cultural and theological implications. In a cultural context where the testimony of women was often disregarded, Jesus’ choice of Mary as the first witness was audacious. But God is known to choose “the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are” (1 Corinthians 1:28).

At Jesus’ arrest, all the disciples abandoned Him (Mark 14:50). At His crucifixion, none were there save John (Matthew 26:56). Jesus, however, still refers to them as His brothers (John 20:17). This is incredible! Jesus had every reason to withhold love and forgiveness from them, but He chose to overlook their previous failures. Not only that, but He welcomes them into God’s family (John 1:12–13; Galatians 4:4–7).

The concluding words of John 20:17 have important implications, as Jesus speaks of “my Father and your Father” and of “my God and your God.” This wording has the effect of emphasizing the brotherhood we share with the Son of God incarnate. In His humanity, the Son could truly call us “brothers.” In His role as Savior, Jesus could assure us that we, too, are “sons of God” (see John 1:12). Commentator C. J. Ellicott paraphrases Jesus’ words this way: “Because He is My Father, He is also your Father, and you are My brethren” (Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers, 1905).

Jesus’ calling the Father “my God and your God” also allays any lingering fear that God had rejected Jesus. He had been tried as a common criminal. On the cross He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). To all appearances, He was not the Messiah; He was not the Son of God. In fact, “we considered him punished by God” (Isaiah 53:4). And “He was assigned a grave with the wicked” (Isaiah 53:9).

But the Father had promised to “give him a portion among the great” (Isaiah 53:12). The resurrection proved that promise was going to be fulfilled. God had not forsaken Jesus at all. There was no rejection. Jesus could still call Him “my Father” and “my God,” as He said to Mary. The relationship between the Father and the Son continues unbroken eternally. By grace through faith, we have been invited into the family, as well.

A key fact is that Jesus’ reference to “my God and your God” comes post-resurrection. Jesus was soon to be exalted to the highest place and seated at the right hand of God (see Philippians 2:9). But He retained His humanity. In that way, He still serves the same God we do; we have the same Father. Jesus did not dispense with His humanity upon His resurrection. His body was raised glorious and incorruptible, but it is a human body nonetheless. And He gives us the promise that He “will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body” (Philippians 3:21).

Jesus’ mention of His ascension gives additional assurance to the disciples (John 20:17). He is the Lord who has triumphed over sin and death. He tells Mary that He will return to heaven and will do so bodily. Jesus is right now the representative of perfect humanity in the presence of God. He holds the promise of eternal life: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die” (John 11:25–26; cf. John 14:2–3).